"That all Congregational ministers in good standing in their respective states, who have been installed by council, or who have been regularly called to the pastorate by the specific vote of some church, have formally accepted such position, and have been recognized as such by some definite act of the church, should be enrolled as pastors; and we advise that all our denominational statistics, and direct that, so far as possible, our Year Book, conform to this principle.”—Vol. 1886, pp. 22-24.

The Council at Portland, Oregon, took a most important step by making it impossible for a minister to belong to two associations at once, or to acquire new membership in one while under discipline in another association. It was there voted,

"That, in the transfer of ministerial membership from one association, conference, or other ecclesiastical body, in the judgment of the Council, the gaining of new membership is ecclesiastically impossible until the applicant shall have been fully released from his previous ecclesiastical membership. "'—Vol. 1898, p. 21.

The earlier of these deliverances also reminded the churches of the more frequent appeal to councils. A step in another direction was taken at Des Moines in 1904:

"Recognizing the change which has come in our conception of the ministry since the day in which a man ordained to the pastorate of a given church had standing only as such pastor, and the fact that a minister once ordained has now a relation to the entire denomination and the Church at large such as the fathers neither contemplated nor could anticipate;

"And recognizing, further, that only a minority of our ministers are installed by council, but that all ministers in good standing must assume relations with a local association, conference, or convention, this

Council reminds the churches and associations of our order that in their keeping now, more largely than of old, is the good name of our ministry and the peace of our churches. In view of these facts:

"Resolved, That this Council urges the churches in selecting the membership of ordaining councils to make those councils truly representative of our fellowship, and that they lay hands suddenly on no man, but guard increasing the honor of our ministry and the purity of the Church of Christ.

"Resolved, That councils be advised to exercise greater care in ordaining men; that in general a man be not ordained who has not previously been licensed; and that careful inquiry be made as to the fitness of men who have not been long among us, or who do not present evidence of thorough training for the work of the ministry, and of knowledge of the 'polity of our churches and the work of our denominational agencies.

“Resolved, That associations be advised to inquire carefully as to the representative character of councils ordaining ministers before admitting to ministerial standing; and that, wherever practicable, all of the churches of the local body which is expected to assume responsibility for the standing of the ministry be invited in council, to the intent that the ordaining power be lodged with a body essentially the same as that responsible for ministerial standing."

The Council frankly recognized the change which has come in our conception of the ministry and not only advised councils to be more careful, but advised associations not to accept the results of councils unless they were truly representative. It declared boldly that the ordaining power should be lodged with a body essentially the same as that responsible for ministerial standing.

The Council held at Cleveland in 1907 advised associations to give larger recognition to their own prerogative as conciliary bodies to get in close relationship with the state and national bodies.

"II. That inasmuch as the ministry constitute an office within the church, and not a class apart from or above the church, ministerial standing be vested in local associations of churches, which should, wherever necessary, so amend their constitutions as to provide for ministerial members and the custody of their standing.

"III. That the transfer of either a minister or a church from one local association to another be by express vote of the dismissing body, and not be delegated to officials empowered to act between meetings.

"IV. That a minister removing from the bounds of one local association to those of another should at an early day transfer his relation, and that such constitutional limitation should be placed upon tenure of membership as to relieve the association of continued responsibility for non-resident members.

"V. That the approved list of ministerial members and churches in good standing be presented by each local association, and be accepted without modification by the state registrar and by the National Council registrar for the Year Book.

"VII. That larger recognition be given to the place of the local association of churches as a conciliary body to act in co-operation with the state and national organizations in the interest of the churches; and that, in view of its close relation to the churches composing it, its own life and autonomy be carefully safeguarded by the continuance of such direct representation as now maintains in the constituted membership of the National Council.

"IX. That the local association, composed of churches and ministers and hence thoroughly representative of the churches, which now holds both licensure and ministerial standing, be also the agency for ordination, the initiative always to be taken by the local church."

These resolutions of the National Council are advisory, yet have practically the force of legislative acts, for they register a movement of the churches which is continental in its proportions, and the churches of the various states have shown quite a surprising unanimity in their approval of these movements. All these powers may therefore be assumed as within the prerogative of the local or district associations.

Licensure for the Ministry. The associations of the churches are the proper bodies for licensure. This prerogative, singularly, was assumed by, and conceded to, associations of ministers in the earliest days of which we have record in New England. The right to license a minister belongs to each local church. Any church may give to one of its own members authority to exhort, teach, or preach the gospel within that parish, but for the wider relations of our churches licensing the ministers has been delegated to associations churches.

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In some cases associations have given to theological seminaries or to committees the right of licensure, but this is not orderly. Delegated authority cannot be delegated, and the right of licensure by an association is itself a delegated power.

Each association should have a committee on licensure, or should give authority to its advisory committee, and constitute that committee a committee on licensure. This body should hold stated or special meetings at which time candidates for licensure should submit full proof, first, of their membership in some Congrega

tional church; secondly, of their Christian experience and call to preach the gospel; and thirdly, of their gifts and training for the ministry. The National Council at Des Moines in 1904 took the following action concerning licensure:

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'Resolved, That councils be advised to exercise greater care in ordaining men; that in general a man be not ordained who has not previously been licensed; and that careful inquiry be made as to the fitness of men who have not been long among us, or who do not present evidence of thorough training for the work of the ministry, and of knowledge of the polity of our churches and the work of our denominational agencies. 'Resolved, That associations be urged to greater care in the granting of licenses; and that men to whom licenses are granted be first thoroughly examined; that theological seminaries be requested to discontinue what are known as seminary licenses or if the same continue to be issued they are not to be used as a substitute for regular licenses, and that of this fact the students be informed and that the entrance to our ministry both as regards licenses and ordination be attended with more of dignity and solemnity than in some cases hitherto.''

Seminary Licenses-Theological students do not commonly present themselves for licensure until the second half of their theological course. It is common, however, for these men to spend one or more summer vacations prior to this time in religious work among the churches. It is fitting that they should carry with them some credentials showing their status in such theological seminary. This should not, however, be called a license, nor be in any such form as to be substituted for a license to preach. It might properly be called a certificate, or letter of commendation, but